Brit Awards adopt white rose symbol to signal 'Time's Up'

LONDON (AP) — Music stars wore white roses on the Brit Awards red carpet Wednesday to support campaigns against sexual harassment and assault.

Guests at Britain's biggest music awards show were given white rose pins to wear in solidarity with the "Time's Up" movement.

Some wore the actual flowers, including nominees Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa.

London-born singer Lipa said making the symbolic statement to "millions and millions of people, not just in the U.K. but all over the world, it does make a difference, it does make a change because we are standing, we are protesting in our own way and this is how we're going to make a difference."

Calls for change have swept through the entertainment industry since women began coming forward to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein last year.

There was a similar gesture at Sunday's British Academy Film Awards, where women wore black to oppose sexual misconduct and bullying.

Rising star Lipa is nominated in five categories at the Brit awards, including album of the year for her self-titled debut.

Performers at the show include Justin Timberlake, Rita Ora and Foo Fighters.

Organizers said Ariana Grande was forced to pull out of performing at the awards because of illness. She had been due to make a surprise appearance in tribute to 22 people killed when a bomber blew himself up at a Grande concert in Manchester in May.

Brit Awards chief executive Geoff Taylor said Grande "was not able to travel on doctor's orders."

He said the show would still feature a "fitting remembrance and recognition" of the Manchester attack.